DS2 has a job that puts him in contact with tens of thousands of people each week. I don’t see how he has avoided it, but he has. It’s weird. The immediate staff around him were all required to be vaxxed and boosted before this gig started so that was reassuring, but a couple of people still have had breakthrough cases.
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It’s a challenge figuring this stuff out. How much to be at indoor events vs hibernating and/or insisting on only outdoors. We all do our best to strike a balance, get vaxed, boosted, wear a good well fitting mask and cross our fingers.
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We are about to attend a 90% outside regathering of family. The part that exasperatedme was everyone’s reluctance to just say “everybody test” and be specific about when to do that.
People (25-ish) are coming several states away, air or car. We literally encompass every age and risk factor, all vaxxed, some have had covid twice – but I had to be the one to say “YES you have to test DAY OF” . For heaven’s sake, “being sure I’m ok” is not science.
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My S went to several of the Rangers playoff games. No issues for him or the people he went with. I actually think that’s probably safer than, say a restaurant. There may be thousands of people, but there’s a huge amount of open air space for circulation, not like, say, a restaurant with a roof ten feet over everyone’s head. Pretty sure he stayed masked.
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Still interesting to see different people living very different day to day lives. Has been true throughout Covid. At this point, we are pretty much living as normal. Eating indoors at restaurants (though eating on patios is more common with warmer weather). Going to movies. Indoor events (such as weddings). No masks. Visiting my dad in senior living facility, masks are required. They test for anyone having symptoms. If there are positives, they test residents and staff weekly until they go 4 weeks with no positive cases. To date, no outbreaks. Knock on wood.
For those hesitant to go to indoor events (masked or unmasked), what will need to happen before that isn’t the case?
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Very good question! I just got thru my first case of Covid 2 weeks ago. It was literally like the mildest cold I’ve ever had. What circumstances would I avoid in order to avoid it? Really none. I’m still willing to mask in places that people must go….groceries…pharmacies…public transportation. But for any place voluntary where wearing a mask is either impossible ( restaurants) or unpleasant (theaters for long periods of time) I’m done with masking or avoiding.
That’s me, and today I still don’t have an answer. I do go indoors to the store (masked), I have flown (more than once, domestically, masked), I went to my D’s graduation (masked), but other “voluntary” events like concerts and live theater, I’m still not there yet. Maybe soon. But not today.
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If someone prefers to mask indoors with groups of people for eternity it should not be of anyone else’s concern. Those people are still “living life” (I get SO tired of hearing this, “I’m going to live my life!” as if others who choose to do things while masking is a punishment)!
There are still plenty of places where masking is still REQUIRED. Health care settings, subways, airports, theaters (NYC), etc. These places aren’t requiring masks for no reason. So if someone is more comfortable wearing a mask now or forever, why worry about it?
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I would also prefer people test, I think it’s a pretty effective (not 100%) way to reduce risk if done as near as possible to the event. But I no longer ask for it to happen, maybe exhaustion. But if I did, then I think I would offer to bring tests for those who don’t have them. While it’s true that people can get some free tests from the government, many people have used those up. And many people can get refunded for test purchases by their insurance, but that seems cumbersome/annoying and I personally haven’t asked for a reimbursement on tests. So then asking everyone to test is asking them to spend ~$12 pp on a test they may not care about/gain any comfort from, whereas I am the one who would gain some level of comfort if they tested. So in that case, I think it’s appropriate to offer to provide tests for anyone who “doesn’t have one handy”. I’m especially thinking of those 25 year olds. So many of them have had covid, had no bad reaction, are living their lives not worried about it. Asking them to spend $12 just to have the privilege of seeing me (
) feels like a big ask. But providing them a free test and asking them to perform it before they come in to the gathering doesn’t seem like as much of an ask.
We went to the opening of a new musical this week at the La Jolla Playhouse and we wore our masks there since they are still required. Tonight we are going to the third outdoor concert I have been at in the last 3 weeks and this one is sold out (Santana and Earth, Wind & Fire) and the venue holds 20K people. No masks are required. So I guess I am back to living my regular life.
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The only place I go (rarely) that still requires masks is medical appointments. I haven’t flown lately, but not related to covid (but I would wear a mask on a plane, I usually just read and don’t chat, and I don’t mind a mask as much if I’m not socializing). And I guess I’m back to living pretty normal because I almost never wear a mask now. The only time I did was we went to the movies, and it was crowded (Top Gun/Maverick), and since we’re just sitting there/not talking, I don’t find it cumbersome to wear a mask watching a movie, so I did. However, my higher risk situations would be car rides with friends, etc, and I don’t wear one then—just too annoying at this point and I guess I have faith that my 4 shots will help me avoid a bad case. I definitely go to restaurants and large events (funerals, 2 upcoming weddings) and cocktail parties and no longer mask. Knocking on wood, I still haven’t gotten it 
, but I do have friends who got it for the first time in the past month, so I know that can happen. I hope I never get it, but I’m dramatically less afraid of it than I was before, so the risk/reward balance has shifted for me to be comfortable doing basically everything.
In this case, everyone has ample supply of free tests; we got the third allotment of free govt ones sent to everyone. Testing earlier in the week, then going on a plane, visitng with friends from out of town, hanging out at a few restaurants — that’s simply not sufficient if you are gathering with unvax’d children, elders on 02 with poor lung function, and a transplant patient.
Well, even in that case, I think asking everyone to test that morning and still offering to bring extras for anyone who might need one, is both a generous/good thing to offer, and helps to convey/underscore that this is important to you—important enough for you to be willing to pay for multiple tests and treat them to a freebie, which may be an effective way to subtly communicate the point without sounding bossy/demanding, as you aren’t suggesting anyone use up a possibly-precious-to-them resource (free tests). If they truly still have free tests, hopefully they’ll use them and you won’t have to treat too many to your stockpile. Just a thought. I guess I mean this more generally—it sounds like in your case there are very specific circumstances (like the fact that you already ordered free tests on behalf of these others?, etc). But just generally, I think if I want people to test going forward, I’m going to offer to provide tests to anyone who “can’t” get one themselves. I prefer that to asking them to spend money on something that they may not care about, but I do.
Not hearing stories like my daughter’s this week, when one bridesmsid infected her, the bride, and groom, forcing the postponement of their wedding and honeymoon to Portugal.
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But this means No indoor restaurants. No indoor weddings ( at least not to partake in the meal) . No indoor event where food is served (ditto) and masks must by necessity come off. So in my mind that is a decision not to fully live life. That’s a decision anyone is more than entitled to make. But it is, in my view, limiting.
I’ve pretty much said this all long, but for me it’s always been risk vs reward.
I don’t care enough about Top Gun Maverick or any movie to go to a theater masked or unmasked. In the case of the concert, ds was working it so it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see him in action (plus it was his anniversary present to us). The reward absolutely was worth the risk. When I go to grocery stores or banks or any business establishment, I still mask, because why not? I go out to eat so obvs unmasked, but I am still picking places I know won’t be too crowded or go at off times (meeting friends, including one visiting from out of town, for lunch today at 2:15, for instance).
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I am fully willing and expect to quarantine myself for a full two weeks prior to a major life event. Several of my friends did this ( as did their kids) prior to the kids wedding.
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I don’t care if other people wear masks. Or if they avoid crowded (or uncrowded) indoor (or outdoor) spaces/events. For as long as they want.
I was just surprised (based on how I have been living and family/friends have been living for 6+ months and to a certain extent longer) that this thread is still active. But as I noted, it has been the case that different people have been living extremely different lives on a day-to-day basis for a couple years now. Note reference to different, not better/worse/right/wrong. And all living lives.
None of the weddings we have been invited to this summer have said anything about testing, vaccination or quarantining. I still have never had a test. Not opposed to it just have never had one. Vaccinated. Mandatory 2 week quarantine would likely mean we wouldn’t go because its just not practical.
Ultimately, even pre-Covid, life was about risk/rewards. Covid just put a laser focus on it.
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I’m 100% with @saillakeerie . I haven’t worn a mask in months except to a dentist appointment where it was required. I’ve been to multiple events with large crowds and only one (a required work event) required testing. I’m taking zero extra covid precautions in my life right now and frankly don’t even think about it much anymore. Sometimes this site feels like an alternate universe.
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I felt that way too until this week. It could happen to you.
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